Romo passed for 137 yards and two touchdowns last night in likely his last preseason action, and
the Cowboys defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 24-18.

In his first home action since getting a six-year, $108 million contract extension during the
offseason, Romo played five series. That equaled how much the first-teamers had played in the
Cowboys’ past two exhibition games — when they had a field goal, a missed field-goal attempt, a
punt and then two fumbles at the end of two big plays in a loss at Arizona last week.

After six turnovers against the Cardinals, Dallas had none in its dress-rehearsal game that came
two weeks before the regular-season opener against the New York Giants. Romo and the starters
almost certainly won’t play in Thursday night’s preseason finale against Houston.

Cincinnati had four turnovers.

Romo completed 13 of 18 passes, with touchdowns of 5 yards to Dez Bryant and 12 yards to Miles
Austin, all before halftime, for a 14-7 lead.

A punt by the Cowboys’ Chris Jones late in the first quarter ricocheted off the framework that
holds up the two big video boards. Officials looked at replays to confirm the kick, which still
went 47 yards, hit the framework, which by rule makes the ball dead.

The Cowboys wished they could have had a do-over on the rekick.

Brandon Tate returned the punt 75 yards for a touchdown, quickly getting past the initial wave
of Cowboys defenders and into an opening down the right sideline and past Jones, the last player
with a chance to get him.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton completed 12 of 16 passes for 113 yards and an interception. Pro
Bowl receiver A.J. Green, who missed the first two exhibition games because of a bruised left knee,
had three catches for 42 yards.

Cincinnati’s first drive of the game ended when Marvin Jones fumbled at the Cowboys’ 4 after a
16-yard reception when he was stripped by Barry Church and the ball was recovered by Brandon
Carr.

“We started the game and did some good things. We had a good stop defensively, three-and-out. We
had a good drive offensively, but laid the ball on the ground,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “
You can't have that.”

Dalton was picked off by rookie cornerback B.W. Webb in the second quarter.

Playing against the Cowboys’ second-team defense to start the second half, Cincinnati quickly
moved down the field before a 26-yard catch by Green brought the Bengals to Dallas’ 16.

Green then made a nifty catch on a fade pass from Dalton to the right side of the end zone, but
his second heel came down just out of bounds. The Bengals had to settle for Quinn Sharp’s 28-yard
field goal.

“I felt good. I felt 100 percent,” Green said. “It’s great to be back out there. It seemed like
a long time since I got hurt, but I knew I’d be back in plenty of time.”